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Complete Guide to the Royal Mint of Spain
By GovMint:
With a rich history spanning centuries, the Royal Spanish Mint, also known as the Real Casa de la Moneda, is Spain's national Mint. Thanks to our connections with renowned world mints, GovMint is proud to make coin series from the Royal Spanish Mint widely available in North America for the first time!
But what is the Royal Mint of Spain, and what does it do? If you’re a coin collector or enthusiast, this guide will cover everything you need to know about the Royal Mint of Spain, from its history and operations to the types of coins it produces and its role in the numismatic world. Let’s begin!
What Is the Royal Mint of Spain?
The origins of the Royal Mint of Spain date back to 1467, making it one of the oldest mints in the world. Although the first mint of Spain began in 1467, it only lasted until 1473, when the king of Spain shut it down. This pattern continued throughout Spain's history, with new mints being built and closed for various reasons.
For example, King Phillip II established a new mint in 1591 along the Eresma River, which eventually failed and relocated to a goldsmith's workshop. In 1614, an official third mint was built in Madrid. This mint lasted until 1861 when the fourth mint was built to replace the outdated equipment being used in the Mint of Madrid. Soon, the fourth mint merged with the Stamp Factory in 1893 until 1964, when it would reform into today's Real Casa de la Moneda or Royal Mint of Spain.
What Is the Purpose of the Royal Mint of Spain?
Today's Royal Mint of Spain handles the production or mintage of Euro coins for circulation, gold and silver coins for coin collectors, medals, banknotes, stamps, and more. The Royal Mint of Spain also plays an important role in creating secure documents for passports and other identification documents.
Did They Film Money Heist in the Royal Mint of Spain?
In the first season of the TV show "Money Heist" (La Casa de Papel), the Royal Mint of Spain plays a major role. The season starts with a heist led by the enigmatic Professor, who recruits a group of eight skilled criminals to infiltrate the Mint. Their goal? To print billions of euros all while holding hostages inside the building. The Royal Mint is depicted as a high-security facility, and the show's tension primarily revolves around the interactions between the robbers, hostages, and the police outside.
While the Royal Mint of Spain was the primary filming location for the first season's heist, the exterior shots were not actually filmed at the Mint but at the Spanish National Research Council (CSIC). This location was used for outside shots since the Mint is currently operational and situated at a busy and hard-to-film intersection in Madrid.
What Was the Spanish Currency Before the Euro?
Before the Royal Mint of Spain began minting and issuing the Euro, Spain used the Spanish Peseta as its monetary unit. The Peseta was established as Spain's monetary unit in 1868, first minted in 1869, and remained in use for over 130 years until it was replaced by the Euro in 2002. The transition to the Euro was initiated when Spain joined the European Union in 1986. However, it wasn't until 1999 that Spain transitioned to the Euro and away from the Peseta, although the two currencies co-existed until February 2002, when the Euro became the sole legal tender in Spain.
Coins of the Royal Mint of Spain
Over its lifetime, the Royal Mint of Spain has produced various types of coins. This section will cover notable coins, including classic issues such as the Spanish Escudo and Peseta, along with interesting facts about each, including their mintage dates and unique features.
Spanish Escudo (1566-1869)
The Spanish Escudo was issued in 1566 until 1869, making it one of the longest-lasting coins in Spanish history. The escudo’s composition was mainly made of gold (around or above 90% in purity) and featured designs including the Spanish coat-of-arms, the Catholic Monarchs, and various rulers.
Spanish Real (1497-1869)
The Spanish Real is another type of coin that has a long history. Spanning 1497 to 1869, this coin saw extensive use in Europe and parts of the Americas like Mexico and North America. The coin has featured various designs under each monarch of Spain, such as the Spanish shield and cross and the Pillars of Hercules. The Spanish Real was also mostly made of silver, with compositions ranging from 80.5% to 93.1%.
Spanish Peseta (1869-2002)
Introduced in 1869, the Spanish Peseta lasted until 2002, several years after Spain joined the European Union and switched over to the Euro coin. Some of the earliest Pesetas were made with silver which had a fineness of .835 or bronze, later transitioning to a copper-nickel alloy. The designs on the coins included prominent figures or symbols such as Francisco Franco, the Spanish flower, and the Spanish coat of arms, which included a lion often mistaken for a dog.
Euro Coin (2002-Present)
After Spain joined the European Union and switched over to the Euro from the Peseta, they created eight denominations in 2002, listed as follows:
- 1 cent
- 2 cent
- 5 cent
- 10 cent
- 20 cent
- 50 cent
- 1 euro
- 2 euros
Although Spain would later update the designs of their series in 2010 and 2015, they tend to depict notable figures, landmarks, or symbols such as the Head of State, His Majesty King Felipe VI, Miguel de Cervantes, the cathedral of Santiago de Compostela, and 12 stars as depicted on the European Union flag.
Euro coins produced by Spain also maintain the same composition as other Euro coins produced throughout Europe. Here’s a breakdown of each coin’s composition type for reference:
- 1, 2, 5 cents: copper-covered steel
- 10, 20, 50 cents: Nordic gold (89% copper, 5% aluminum, 5% zinc, and 1% tin)
- 1, 2 euros:
- “Gold” part: Nickel-brass (75% copper, 20% zinc and 5% nickel)
- “Silver” part: Cupronickel (75% copper and 25% nickel)
Commemorative Euro Coins
The Royal Mint of Spain has released several commemorative coins over the years, with plans to release more in the future. These commemorative coins produced by the Royal Mint of Spain are considered legal tender and intended for circulation. Coins not intended for circulation are considered collector’s coins by the Spanish Royal Mint. Here are a few examples of these commemorative euro coins:
- Margarita Salas: Issued March 8, 2024, this 92.5% silver 10-euro coin celebrates scientist Margarita Salas.
- Ferdinand Magellan Commemorative Coin: Issued in 2020, this 10-euro coin is made of 92.5% pure silver and celebrates the 500th anniversary of Magellan sailing around the world.
- Gold Bullion Coin Carthusian Horse: Initially issued in 2023 with a newer version expected in 2024, this is a 1.5 euro gold coin with 99.9% purity.
- 200th Anniversary of National Police: Commemorating Spain’s national police, this 2-euro coin was issued in the first quarter of 2024.
- Don Quixote Commemorative Coin: Released in 2005 to mark the 400th anniversary of the publication of the famous tale, Don Quixote, this is the first 2-euro commemorative coin the Royal Mint of Spain has issued.
The Royal Mint of Spain releases new commemorative euro coins each year. However, collecting commemorative euro coins has been a challenge for interested coin collectors living in North America.
That’s why we’re pleased to announce our recent partnership with the Royal Mint of Spain that allows us to make a wide variety of coins from the Royal Spanish Mint widely available in North America for the first time!
Where to Buy Collectible Spanish Coins
Coins produced by the Royal Mint of Spain are rich with history and meaning. If you are ready to add Spanish coins to your collection, visit GovMint. Thanks to our connections with the Royal Mint of Spain, GovMint is proud to make many alluring Royal Spanish Mint products widely availailble in North America for the very first time! Secure yours with GovMint today—We offer a wide selection of vintage and modern collectible coins for your coin-collecting journey.
If you enjoyed reading this Complete Guide to the Royal Mint of Spain, be sure to check out our other Complete Guides to world mints:
Complete Guide to the Perth Mint
References:
https://en.numista.com/catalogue/mint.php?id=24
https://www.bde.es/wbe/en/areas-actuacion/billetes-monedas/historia-peseta/
https://economy-finance.ec.europa.eu/euro/eu-countries-and-euro/spain-and-euro_en
https://www.britannica.com/topic/Catholic-Monarchs
https://www.nps.gov/articles/000/spanish-coins.htm
https://www.fnmt.es/en/historia-de-la-peseta
https://economy-finance.ec.europa.eu/euro/euro-coins-and-notes/euro-coins/common-sides-euro-coins_en
https://phys.org/news/2020-04-euro-coins-antimicrobial-contrast-banknotes.html
https://www.predecimal.com/euroarticle.htm
https://new.coinsweekly.com/news-en/king-felipe-unshaven-new-commemorative-coins-from-spain/
https://en.numista.com/catalogue/pieces370772.html
https://www.coinworld.com/news/world-coins/spain-issues-horse-gold-bullion-coin-next-in-series
https://euroweeklynews.com/2023/11/30/new-e2-coin-to-honour-spanish-police/
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